Stitch. Share.
Earlier today, I posted this message on my Facebook wall and promised to share my “Tree of Life” design with anyone who wanted to stitch it in love. One of the quirky things about Facebook is that I found I could not add a file to my personal timeline, nor could I add it to my company page. So here I am, writing this rare blog post as a response to a current news story and connecting it to my life as a designer. If it offends you, just scroll on by.
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I didn’t post anything yesterday about the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. I couldn’t find the right words. I am not confident that I have them now and I know deep in my heart that words are not enough.
At the moment, nothing seems to be enough.
Whether it be one or eleven, this loss of life is too much. Too senseless.
What is the source of this lack of humanity? And the larger question is this: how widespread is this lack of humanity? Until we know the source of this hatred, this sickness, this lack of placing a value on every human life we cannot eradicate the hatred, sickness, and inhumanity.
And while we are searching, we must not become so accustomed to these shootings that we are no longer appalled and enraged. There is a danger in that and I know that I could easily become numb and indifferent. Please, let that not ever be the case!
Somewhere in my archives I have a Tree of Life cross stitch design. I haven’t marketed it in decades. So I pulled a copy out of my files and read the note I added to the leaflet … this is a slightly revised version …
“In many cultures throughout the ages, the Tree of Life has been stitched to reflect a philosophy regarding the reality of our world. The crown of the tree reaches toward the light yet the roots begin in darkness, linking heaven and earth.”
I’m not sure what I am going to do with this artistic expression of mine but I think it’s time to dust it off and do *something* with it. Check back later. I need to go for a walk and think.
EDIT #1: Since my original chart was hand drawn (back in the 80’s) I am creating a digital version. The main chart is done. Now I have to do the color key, proofread, and put it together. I’ll make it a pdf and share it everywhere I can … all I ask is that it be stitched in love. I am hoping to have it done before the end of the day.
EDIT #2: Please feel free to share this with friends, shops, events, and stitching groups … the face to face kind and the online kind.
Tree of Life_2018_2.0 (color key has been corrected)
May this bring a sense of hope and peace to you.
Stitch. Enjoy. Love.